Dear Soko: What Skin Care Products Should I Use Before and After the Gym?

How should you be taking care of your skin before and after the gym? Welcome to Dear Soko, a series dedicated to answering your biggest skin care questions with advice from Soko Glam’s skin experts. Whether you’re confused about specific ingredients or what you need to do to achieve healthier skin overall, these experts are here to guide you.

Last week, Klog reader Ara asked: “What’s the routine I must do before and after a gym workout?”

Here’s a Soko Glam Skin Expert’s answer:

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Working out feels great! I work out twice a day – before I get into the office and after work. This is something I look forward to daily.

If anyone has been in an intense spin class, it gets pretty sweaty in there, plus the humidity is on high. Sweat is excreted through your pores, which means it sits on top of your skin along with sebum, product and other bodily fluids. This is not an ideal situation and can lead to breakouts, clogged pores, and irritation after a workout. This is why proper skin and body care is so important when you’re a gym junkie like me!

If you’re working out in the morning, keep your pre-exercise skin care routine short and sweet (double cleanse, moisturizer, SPF). After your workout, use a cleansing water to wipe off dirt and other impurities. This also helps to ensure you do not over-cleanse.

After “cleansing” your skin, you can follow with the rest of your skin care routine; essence, moisturizer, SPF. You may also consider other multi-tasking products like the RE:P PhytoCELL Cell Moisture All in One Essence; it’s a toner, essence, and lotion in one. Just follow with your SPF and you’re done – easy peezy!

Now comes your PM routine – and it’s going to be a bit longer.

In previous Dear Sokos, I have expressed that your PM routine should be more intensive. While you’re sleeping, your skin repairs itself from the day’s wear and tear and is taking in all the treatments you have layered over it. This is the time to exfoliate, sheet mask, and layer more intensive serums/treatments. Exfoliating is especially important as removing dead skin cells prevents clogged pores. Remember to practice body exfoliation, too. For those who are body breakout-prone, a great body soap is the KLAIRS Manuka Honey & Choco Body Soap.

Those are my tips for a gym junkie. If you would like more personalized help, we offer 1:1 Skin Consultations that you can schedule here.

Have a great workout!

Warmly,

Your Skin Expert

+What products do you keep in your gym bag? What else would you like to ask the Soko Glam Skin Expert? Share your questions below!